Innovators Gear Up Work on ‘Green’ Hydrogen Plane With Plans for Nonstop 9-day Trip Around Earth

LES SABLES D’OLONNE, France (AP) — When aviation pioneer Bertrand Piccard spearheaded a flight around the world in a plane powered by sunlight, it raised awareness about climate change but held little promise of revolutionizing air travel.

Now, the 66-year-old Swiss adventurer behind Solar Impulse is aiming for greener commercial flight using super-cold liquid hydrogen.

From a workshop on France’s Atlantic coast, Piccard and partners are ramping up Climate Impulse, a project to fly a two-seater plane around the globe nonstop over nine days fueled by green hydrogen.

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The Climate Impulse team, backed by Airbus and Syensqo (born from Belgian company Solvay), presented its progress in Les Sables d’Olonne.

The Climate Impulse plane, powered by liquid hydrogen, is displayed in a hangar in France on Feb. 13, 2025.

The Climate Impulse, a plane powered by liquid hydrogen, is displayed in a hangar in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

When will Climate Impulse get off the ground?

First test flights are planned next year, with the round-the-world trip set for 2028.

“It’s my job to be a pioneer,” said Piccard.

The solar-powered plane in 2015 wasn’t scalable, said engineer and co-pilot Raphael Dinelli.

How is Climate Impulse supposed to fly?

Swiss aviation pioneer Bertrand Piccard, center, Raphael Dinelli, left, Climate Impulse engineer and co-pilot, and project manager Cyril Haenel speak in front of the wings of the Climate Impulse, a plane powered by liquid hydrogen, at the press presentation of the project in a hangar in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

Liquid hydrogen from tanks powers a fuel cell. The plane has an Airbus 320 wingspan (34 meters), weighs 5.5 tons, and flies at 180 km/h.

The only emission is water vapor.

The International Energy Agency says aviation accounts for about 2% of global CO2 emissions.

Many governments want to produce more green hydrogen, but challenges remain.

Raphael Dinelli, Climate Impulse engineer and co-pilot, stands near wings of the plane, powered by liquid hydrogen, at a press presentation of the project in a hangar in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet)

What’s progress like so far, and what’s next?

The team has built the cockpit, wing spar, and interior components. Fuel cell tests are planned this year.

Maintaining liquid hydrogen at -253°C is a challenge.

What are the prospects for green hydrogen in flight?

Swiss aviation pioneer Bertrand Piccard speaks about Climate Impulse, a plane powered by liquid hydrogen, at the press presentation of the project in a hangar in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.(AP Photo/ Yohan Bonnet)

Liquid hydrogen is known as a rocket propellant. Aviation’s carbon emissions are growing rapidly, but hydrogen could be its “Tesla moment,” said Nikhil Sachdeva from Roland Berger.

Piccard’s team has proven the impossible is possible.